Electronic apparatus, electronic apparatus system, and method for controlling electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electronic apparatus, an electronic apparatus system, and a method for controlling an electronic apparatus are disclosed. An electronic apparatus communicates with an input apparatus worn on an operator body part being a part of a body of a user. The input apparatus includes a motion detector. The motion detector is configured to detect motion information indicative of a movement of the operator body part. The electronic apparatus includes a display and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to perform a luminance control in which a luminance of the display is controlled according to an inclination of a virtual input surface. The virtual input surface is a first surface on which a trace of the operator body part based on the motion information is drawn or a second surface parallel to the first surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation based on PCT Application No.PCT/JP2015/076686, filed on Sep. 18, 2015, which claims the benefit ofJapanese Application No. 2014-197276, filed on Sep. 26, 2014. PCTApplication No. PCT/JP2015/076686 is entitled “ELECTRONIC APPARATUS ANDELECTRONIC APPARATUS SYSTEM”, and Japanese Application No. 2014-197276is entitled “ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS SYSTEM”. Thecontents of which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to electronic apparatuses,an electronic apparatus system, and a method for controlling anelectronic apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Terminals and ring-shaped input apparatuses for the terminals have beenproposed. Such a ring-shaped input apparatus is to be worn by a user onhis or her finger and can transmit the movement of the finger to theterminal. The terminal performs processing corresponding to the movementof the finger.

SUMMARY

An electronic apparatus, an electronic apparatus system, and a methodfor controlling an electronic apparatus are disclosed.

In one embodiment, an electronic apparatus communicates with an inputapparatus worn on an operator body part being a part of a body of auser. The input apparatus includes a motion detector. The motiondetector is configured to detect motion information indicative of amovement of the operator body part. The electronic apparatus includes adisplay and at least one processor. The at least one processor isconfigured to perform a luminance control in which a luminance of thedisplay is controlled according to an inclination of a virtual inputsurface. The virtual input surface is a first surface on which a traceof the operator body part based on the motion information is drawn or asecond surface parallel to the first surface.

In one embodiment, an electronic apparatus system includes an inputapparatus and an electronic apparatus. The input apparatus is worn on anoperator body part being a part of a body of a user and includes amotion detector. The motion detector is configured to detect motioninformation indicative of a movement of the operator body part. Theelectronic apparatus includes a display and at least one processor. Theat least one processor is configured to perform a luminance control inwhich a luminance of the display is controlled according to aninclination of a virtual input surface. The virtual input surface is afirst surface on which a trace of the operator body part based on themotion information is drawn or a second surface parallel to the firstsurface.

In one embodiment, a control method is for use in controlling anelectronic apparatus that communicates with an input apparatus worn onan operator body part being a part of a body of a user. The inputapparatus includes a motion detector. The motion detector is configuredto detect motion information indicative of a movement of the operatorbody part. The method includes controlling a luminance of a display ofthe electronic apparatus according to an inclination of a virtual inputsurface. The virtual input surface is a first surface on which a traceof the operator body part based on the motion information is drawn or asecond surface parallel to the first surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of an electronic apparatussystem.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of an internal configurationof a wearable input apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic rear view of an example of an externalappearance of an electronic apparatus.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of an internal configurationof the electronic apparatus.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example of an internal configurationof a controller.

FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically illustrate the state in which the user movesan operator body part on a virtual input surface.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an example of motion information.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart showing an example operation performed bya specifying unit and a luminance controller.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart showing an example operation performedby the specifying unit and a processor.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates an example of the relationship betweenthe trace of the operator body part and a virtual surface.

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates an example of the internalconfiguration of the controller.

FIGS. 13 to 15 each illustrate a flowchart showing an example operationperformed by the controller.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates an example of the relationship betweenthe movement of the operator body part and a display screen on a displayarea.

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart showing an example operation performedby the controller.

FIG. 18 schematically illustrates an example of the internalconfiguration of the controller.

FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of the operationperformed by the controller.

FIG. 20 schematically illustrates an example of the internalconfiguration of the controller.

FIG. 21 illustrates a flowchart showing an example operation performedby the controller.

FIG. 22 schematically illustrates an example of the internalconfiguration of the controller.

FIG. 23 illustrates a flowchart showing an example operation performedby the controller.

FIG. 24 schematically illustrates an example of the internalconfiguration of the controller.

FIG. 25 illustrates a flowchart showing an example operation performedby the controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment

1. Overall Configuration

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example configuration of anelectronic apparatus system. In the illustration of FIG. 1, theelectronic apparatus system includes an electronic apparatus 100 and awearable input apparatus 200. The electronic apparatus 100 and thewearable input apparatus 200 communicate with each other. In thiselectronic apparatus system, the user moves a part of his or her body,namely, an operator body part (such as a finger) to perform, on theelectronic apparatus 100, an input operation corresponding to themovement. The user can operate the electronic apparatus 100 while beingaway from the electronic apparatus 100.

2. Wearable Input Apparatus

The wearable input apparatus 200 is to be worn by the user on his or heroperator body part. In the illustration of FIG. 1, the operator bodypart is a finger, and the wearable input apparatus 200 has a ring shapeas a whole. The user slips the wearable input apparatus 200 on thefinger. The wearable input apparatus 200 is thus worn by the user. Theuser can spatially move the wearable input apparatus 200.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of an internal electricalconfiguration of the wearable input apparatus 200. The wearable inputapparatus 200 includes, for example, a proximity wireless communicationunit 210 and a motion information detector 220.

The proximity wireless communication unit 210 includes an antenna 211and can perform proximity wireless communication with the electronicapparatus 100 through the antenna 211. The proximity wirelesscommunication unit 210 can conduct communication according to theBluetooth (registered trademark) or the like.

The motion information detector 220 can detect motion information MD1indicative of a spatial movement of the wearable input apparatus 200.The wearable input apparatus 200 is worn on the operator body part, andthus, the motion information MD1 is also indicative of a movement of theoperator body part. The following description will be given assumingthat the spatial movement of the wearable input apparatus 200 isequivalent to the movement of the operator body part.

The motion information detector 220 can transmit the detected motioninformation MD1 to the electronic apparatus 100 through the proximitywireless communication unit 210. The motion information detector 220includes, for example, an accelerometer 221. The accelerometer 221 canobtain acceleration components in three orthogonal directions repeatedlyat, for example, predetermined time intervals. The position of thewearable input apparatus 200 (the position of the operator body part)can be obtained by integrating acceleration twice with respect to time,and thus, the chronological data including values detected by theaccelerometer 221 describes the movement of the operator body part.Here, the chronological data on the acceleration components in threedirections is used as an example of the motion information MD1.

3. Electronic Apparatus

3-1. External Appearance

FIG. 1 illustrates an external appearance of the electronic apparatus100 as viewed from the front surface side. FIG. 3 illustrates a rearview of the outline of the electronic apparatus 100. The electronicapparatus 100 is, for example, a tablet, a personal digital assistant(PDA), or a mobile phone (such as a smartphone). The electronicapparatus 100 can communicate with another communication device directlyor via, for example, a base station and a server.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the electronic apparatus 100 includes acover panel 2 and a case part 3. The combination of the cover panel 2and the case part 3 forms a housing 4 (hereinafter also referred to asan “apparatus case”) having, for example, an approximately rectangularplate shape in a plan view.

The cover panel 2, which may have an approximately rectangular shape ina plan view, is the portion other than the periphery in the frontsurface part of the electronic apparatus 100. The cover panel 2 is madeof, for example, transparent glass or a transparent acrylic resin. Insome embodiments, the cover panel 2 is made of, for example, sapphire.Sapphire is a single crystal based on aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃). Herein,sapphire refers to a single crystal having a purity of Al₂O₃ ofapproximately 90% or more. The purity of Al₂O₃ is preferably greaterthan or equal to 99%, which provides a greater resistance to damage ofthe cover panel. The cover panel 2 may be made of materials other thansapphire, such as diamond, zirconia, titania, crystal, lithiumtantalite, and aluminum oxynitride. Similarly to the above, each ofthese materials is preferably a single crystal having a purity of Al₂O₃of approximately 90% or more, which provides a greater resistance todamage of the cover panel.

The cover panel 2 may be a multilayer composite panel (laminated panel)including a layer made of sapphire. For example, the cover panel 2 maybe a double-layer composite panel including a layer (a sapphire panel)made of sapphire and located on the surface of the electronic apparatus100 and a layer (a glass panel) made of glass and laminated on thesapphire panel. The cover panel 2 may be a triple-layer composite panelincluding a layer (a first sapphire panel) made of sapphire and locatedon the surface of the electronic apparatus 100, a layer (a glass panel)made of glass and laminated on the first sapphire panel, and anotherlayer (a second sapphire panel) made of sapphire and laminated on theglass panel. The cover panel 2 may also include a layer made ofcrystalline materials other than sapphire, such as diamond, zirconia,titania, crystal, lithium tantalite, and aluminum oxynitride.

The case part 3 forms the periphery of the front surface part, the sidesurface part, and the rear surface part of the electronic apparatus 100.The case part 3 is made of, for example, a polycarbonate resin.

The front surface of the cover panel 2 includes a display area 2 a onwhich various pieces of information such as characters, signs, graphics,or images are displayed. The display area 2 a has, for example, arectangular shape in a plan view. A peripheral part 2 b surrounding thedisplay area 2 a in the cover panel 2 is black because of a film or thelike laminated thereon, and thus, is a non-display part on which noinformation is displayed. Attached to a rear surface of the cover panel2 is a touch panel 50, which will be described below. The user canprovide various instructions to the electronic apparatus 100 byoperating the display area 2 a on the front surface of the electronicapparatus 100 with a finger or the like. Also, the user can providevarious instructions to the electronic apparatus 100 by operating thedisplay area 2 a with, for example, a pen for capacitive touch panelsuch as a stylus pen, instead of the operator such as the finger.

The apparatus case 4 houses, for example, an operation key 5. Theoperation key 5 is, for example, a hardware key and is located in, forexample, the lower edge portion of the front surface of the cover panel2.

The touch panel 50 and the operation key 5 constitutes an operation unitfor use in operating the electronic apparatus 100.

3-2. Electrical Configuration of Electronic Apparatus

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram showing an electrical configurationof the electronic apparatus 100. As illustrated in FIG. 4, theelectronic apparatus 100 includes a controller 10, a wirelesscommunication unit 20, a proximity wireless communication unit 22, adisplay 30, a receiver 42, a speaker 44, a sound input unit 46, thetouch panel 50, a key operation unit 52, and an imaging unit 60. Theapparatus case 4 houses these constituent components of the electronicapparatus 100.

The controller 10 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU)101, a digital signal processor (DSP) 102, and a storage 103. Thecontroller 10 can control other constituent components of the electronicapparatus 100 to perform overall control of the operation of theelectronic apparatus 100. The storage 103 includes, for example, a readonly memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The storage 103 canstore, for example, a main program and a plurality of applicationprograms (also merely referred to as “applications” hereinafter). Themain program is a control program for controlling the operation of theelectronic apparatus 100, specifically, the individual constituentcomponents of the electronic apparatus 100 such as the wirelesscommunication unit 20 and the display 30. The CPU101 and the DSP 102execute the various programs stored in the storage 103 to achievevarious functions of the controller 10. Although one CPU 101 and one DSP102 are illustrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of CPUs 101 and a pluralityof DSPs 102 may be included in the controller 10. The CPUs 101 and theDSPs 102 may cooperate with one another to achieve various functions.Although the storage 103 is included in the controller 10 in theillustration of FIG. 4, the storage 103 may be located outside of thecontroller 10. That is to say, the storage 103 may be separated from thecontroller 10. All or some of the functions of the controller 10 may beperformed by hardware.

The wireless communication unit 20 includes an antenna 21. The wirelesscommunication unit 20 can receive a signal from another mobile phone ora signal from communication equipment such as a web server connected tothe Internet through the antenna 21 via a base station or the like. Thewireless communication unit 20 can amplify and down-convert the receivedsignal and then output a resultant signal to the controller 10. Thecontroller 10 can, for example, demodulate the received signal. Further,the wireless communication unit 20 can up-convert and amplify atransmission signal generated by the controller 10 to wirelesslytransmit the processed transmission signal through the antenna 21. Thetransmission signal from the antenna 21 is received, via the basestation or the like, by another mobile phone or communication equipmentconnected to the Internet.

The proximity wireless communication unit 22 includes an antenna 23. Theproximity wireless communication unit 22 can conduct, through theantenna 23, communication with a communication terminal that is closerto the electronic apparatus 100 than the communication target of thewireless communication unit 20 (e.g., a base station) is. For example,the proximity wireless communication unit 22 can communicate with thewearable input apparatus 200. The proximity wireless communication unit22 can conduct communication according to, for example, the Bluetooth(registered trademark) standard.

The display 30 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or anorganic electroluminescent (EL) panel. The display 30 can displayvarious pieces of information such as characters, signs, graphic, orimages under the control of the controller 10. The information displayedon the display 30 is displayed on the display area 2 a on the frontsurface of the cover panel 2. In other words, the display 30 displaysinformation on the display area 2 a. The display 30, which is a liquidcrystal display panel, can be irradiated with light by a backlight. Theluminance of the display 30 can be thus adjusted according to theluminance of the backlight. The display 30 may be an organic EL panel.Although the luminance of the individual display element of the organicEL panel can be adjusted, the average luminance of the screen isadjusted in one embodiment.

The touch panel 50 can detect an operation performed on the display area2 a of the cover panel 2 with the operator such a as a finger. The touchpanel 50 is, for example, a projected capacitive touch panel and isattached to the rear surface of the cover panel 2. When the userperforms an operation on the display area 2 a of the cover panel 2 withthe operator such as the finger, a signal corresponding to the operationis input from the touch panel 50 to the controller 10. The controller 10can specify, based on the signal from the touch panel 50, the purpose ofthe operation performed on the display area 2 a and accordingly performprocessing appropriate to the purpose.

The key operation unit 52 can detect a press down operation performed onthe individual operation key 5. The key operation unit 52 can detectwhether the individual operation key 5 is pressed down. When theoperation key 5 is not pressed down, the key operation unit 52 outputs,to the controller 10, a non-operation signal indicating that nooperation is performed on the operation key 5. When the operation key 5is pressed down, the key operation unit 52 outputs, to the controller10, an operation signal indicating that an operation is performed on theoperation key 5. The controller 10 can thus determine whether anoperation is performed on the individual operation key 5.

The receiver 42 can output a received sound and is, for example, adynamic speaker. The receiver 42 can convert an electrical sound signalfrom the controller 10 into a sound and then output the sound. The soundoutput from the receiver 42 is output to the outside through a receiverhole 80 a in the front surface of the electronic apparatus 100. Thevolume of the sound output through the receiver hole 80 a is set to belower than the volume of the sound output from the speaker 44 throughspeaker holes 34 a.

The receiver 42 may be replaced with a piezoelectric vibration element.The piezoelectric vibration element can vibrate based on a sound signalunder the control of the controller 10. The piezoelectric vibrationelement is located on, for example, the rear surface of the cover panel2. The piezoelectric vibration element can cause, through its vibrationbased on the sound signal, the cover panel 2 to vibrate. The vibrationof the cover panel 2 is transmitted to the user as a voice. The receiverhole 80 a is not necessary for this configuration.

The speaker 44 is, for example a dynamic speaker. The speaker 44 canconvert an electrical sound signal from the controller 10 into a soundand then output the sound. The sound output from the speaker 44 isoutput to the outside through the speaker holes 34 a in the rear surfaceof the electronic apparatus 100. The sound output through the speakerholes 34 a is set to a volume such that the sound can be heard in theplace part from the electronic apparatus 100. The speaker 44 outputs,for example, a received sound.

The sound input unit 46 is a microphone. The sound input unit 46 canconvert the sound from the outside of the electronic apparatus 100 intoan electrical sound signal and then output the electrical sound signalto the controller 10. The sound from the outside of the electronicapparatus 100 is, for example, taken inside the electronic apparatus 100through the microphone hole in the front surface of the cover panel 2and then is received by the sound input unit 46.

The imaging unit 60 includes, for example, a first imaging unit 62 and asecond imaging unit 64. The first imaging unit 62 includes, for example,an imaging lens 6 a and an image sensor. The first imaging unit 62 cancapture a still image and a video under the control of the controller10. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the imaging lens 6 a is located in thefront surface of the electronic apparatus 100. Thus, the first imagingunit 62 can capture an image of an object located on the front surfaceside (the cover panel 2 side) of the electronic apparatus 100.

The second imaging unit 64 includes, for example, an imaging lens 7 aand an image sensor. The second imaging unit 64 can capture a stillimage and a video under the control of the controller 10. As illustratedin FIG. 3, the imaging lens 7 a is located in the rear surface of theelectronic apparatus 100. Thus, the second imaging unit 64 can capturean image of an objected located on the rear surface side of theelectronic apparatus 100.

3-3. Controller

FIG. 5 illustrates a functional block diagram schematically showing anexample of an internal configuration of the controller 10. Thecontroller 10 includes a specifying unit 110, a luminance controller120, and a processor 130. These functional units may be implemented by,for example, executing programs stored in the storage 103. All or someof these functional units may be implemented by hardware. This holestrue for other functional units, which will be described below, and willnot be repeated in the following description.

The specifying unit 110 can receive the motion information MD1 from thewearable input apparatus 200 through the proximity wirelesscommunication unit 22 to specify the movement of the wearable inputapparatus 200 (the movement of the operator body part).

The movement of the operator body part will now be described. In oneembodiment, the user performs an input operation on the electronicapparatus 100 by moving the operator body part on a virtual inputsurface in a predetermined pattern (hereinafter referred to as a “tracepattern”). FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically illustrate an example of thestate in which the user moves the operator body part. For example, theuser moves, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the operator body part on avertical virtual input surface VS1 in a trace pattern P1 (such as acircle) or moves, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the operator body part on ahorizontal virtual input surface VS2 in the trace pattern P1.

Examples of the trace pattern includes characters, numbers, signs, andgraphics. The movement on the virtual input surface can be regarded aswriting characters and numbers in a virtual manner or drawing signs andgraphics in a virtual manner on the virtual input surface.

In one embodiment, the inclination of the virtual input surfaceindicates an input for specifying the luminance of the display 30 andthe trace pattern of the movement of the operator body part on thevirtual input surface indicates an input for giving instructions and thelike associated with various functions of the electronic apparatus 100,as will be evident from the following description.

The specifying unit 110 can specify the inclination of the virtual inputsurface and the trace pattern of the movement of the operator body parton the virtual input surface.

For easy understanding of the following description, the horizontal axisthat is parallel to the virtual input surface VS1 is referred to as an“x axis”, the axis perpendicular to the virtual input surface VS1 isreferred to as a “y axis”, and the vertical axis is referred to as a “zaxis” (see FIG. 6). The virtual input surface VS2 is perpendicular tothe z axis and is parallel to the x axis and the y axis (see FIG. 7).

In the case where the operator body part is moved on the virtual inputsurface VS1, the y-axis component of the chronological data onacceleration, which is an example of the motion information MD1, issmaller than the x-axis component and the z-axis component of the data.The reason for this is that the user who is moving the operator bodypart on the virtual input surface VS1 does not feel much need to movethe operator body part along the y axis perpendicular to the virtualinput surface VS1. FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an example of themotion information MD1 based on the ideal movement of the operator bodypart on the virtual input surface VS1. For the sake of simplicity, thegravitational acceleration is disregarded in FIG. 8. In the illustrationof FIG. 8, the y-axis component in each cell is zero.

FIG. 8 illustrates the chronological data obtained by moving theoperator body part on the virtual input surface VS1 in a given tracepattern and stopping the operator body part temporarily at the startingpoint and the endpoint of the trace pattern. In the illustration of FIG.8, each of the x-axis component, the y-axis component, and the z-axiscomponent of the chronological data at the starting point and theendpoint is zero. The specifying unit 110 may recognize the startingpoint and the endpoint of the trace pattern based on this condition.

The specifying unit 110 can recognize the movement of the operator bodypart on the virtual input surface VS1 with reference to the value of they-axis component of the chronological data on acceleration. For example,the specifying unit 110 calculates the sum of the absolute values of they-axis component of the chronological data and compares the sum with aninclination reference value. The calculation and comparison can be madeby an adder and a comparator. When determining that the sum is smallerthan the inclination reference value, the specifying unit 110 determinesthat the operator body part is moved on the virtual input surface VS1.In other words, the specifying unit 110 determines that the virtualinput surface is steeply inclined relative to the ground.

Similarly, in the case where that the operator body part is moved on thevirtual input surface VS2, the z-axis component of the chronologicaldata on acceleration is smaller than the x-axis component and the y-axiscomponent of the data. The specifying unit 110 can recognize themovement of the operator body part on the virtual input surface VS2 withreference to the value of the z-axis component of the chronological dataof acceleration. When the sum of the absolute values of the z-axiscomponents is smaller than the inclination reference value, thespecifying unit 110 determines that the operator body part is moved onthe virtual input surface VS2. In other words, the specifying unit 110determines that the virtual input surface is gently inclined relative tothe ground.

The position of the operator body part is obtained by integratingacceleration twice, and thus, the inclination of the virtual inputsurface may be determined in the following manner. Firstly, thepositions of the operator body part along the y axis are determinedbased on the value obtained by integrating acceleration twice. Then, theamount of the movement of the operator body part in the y-axis directionis calculated from the determined positions. The amount of the movementcan be calculated as the longest distance between the individualpositions along the y axis. When the amount of the movement along the yaxis is smaller than a predetermined motion reference value, thespecifying unit 110 determines that the operator body part is moved onthe virtual input surface VS1. Similarly, when the amount of themovement along the z axis is smaller than a movement amount referencevalue, the specifying unit 110 determines that the operator body part ismoved on the virtual input surface VS2.

In short, when the vertical value indicative of the amount of themovement of the operator body part in the y-axis direction is smallerthan the predetermined reference value, the specifying unit 110 maydetermine that the vertical input surface is steeply inclined. When thehorizontal value indicative of the amount of the movement of theoperator body part in the z-axis direction is smaller than thepredetermined reference value, the specifying unit 110 may determinethat the virtual input surface is gently inclined.

Thus, the specifying unit 110 can determine the degree of theinclination of the virtual input surface. The information on theinclination is output to the luminance controller 120. The luminancecontroller 120 can control the luminance of the display 30 according tothe inclination of the virtual input surface. In the case where thedisplay 30 is a liquid crystal display panel, the luminance controller120 controls the luminance of the backlight.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart showing a specific example operationperformed by the specifying unit 110 and the luminance controller 120.The operation illustrated in FIG. 9 is performed in response to themovement of the operator body part per input. The movement per inputrefers to the movement of the operator body part in the individual tracepattern. In the illustration of FIG. 9, the specifying unit 110determines in Step S1 whether the virtual input surface is steeplyinclined or gently inclined, in the above-mentioned manner or the like.The result of the determination is output to the luminance controller120.

If it is determined in Step S1 that the virtual input surface is steeplyinclined, in Step S2, the luminance controller 120 sets the luminance ofthe display 30 to a first value. If it is determined in Step S1 that thevirtual input surface is gently inclined, in Step S3, the luminancecontroller 120 sets the luminance of the display 30 to a second valuesmaller than the first value.

The user can adjust the luminance according to the inclination of thevirtual input surface. This means that the user can adjust the luminancewith a simple motion.

In the above-mentioned example, the luminance controller 120 sets theluminance to the lower value in response to a movement on the gentlyinclined virtual input surface. This is preferable in terms ofconfidentiality of input, as will be described below.

Unlike the display contents of the display 30 having a high luminance,the display contents of the display 30 having a low luminance are lessvisible to a stranger. This is because a dark screen has poorvisibility. Unlike the movement of the operator body part on the steeplyinclined virtual input screen, the movement of the operator body part onthe gently inclined virtual input screen is less visible to thestranger. One reason may be that it is difficult for most people toperceive the movement in the depth direction.

In one embodiment, when the user moves the operator body part in a lessperceptible manner, the display 30 performs display at a luminance thatis too low for a stranger to see the display contents. The user can thusperform an input operation under strict confidentiality.

When the virtual input surface is gently inclined, in Step S3, theluminance controller 120 may cause the display 30 to stop performingdisplay. In other words, the luminance may be set to zero. Here, theluminance refers to the overall luminance of the display 30. In the casewhere the liquid crystal display panel is irradiated with light by aplurality of backlights, the luminance controller 120 may turn off allof the backlights to set the luminance to zero. This can enhanceconfidentiality.

In the above-mentioned example, the luminance has been changed in binaryform in accordance with the binary information indicating that thevirtual input surface is steeply inclined or gently inclined.Alternatively, the luminance may be changed minutely according to theinclination of the virtual input surface.

The following will describe the input operation according to the tracepattern. FIG. 10 illustrates an example operation performed by thespecifying unit 110 and the processor 130. The operation illustrated inFIG. 10 is performed, for example, subsequently to the operationillustrated in FIG. 9. In Step S20, the specifying unit 110 specifies,based on the motion information MD1, an input corresponding to the tracepattern on the virtual input surface. The specifying unit 110 mayspecify the input in any desired manner, which will be described belowin outline.

With reference to FIG. 5, a plurality of pieces of registered patterninformation SP1 are prestored in a storage 70. The storage 70 may beseparate from the storage 103 or may be integral with the storage 103.The registered pattern information SP1 is the motion information basedon the movement of the operator body part in a predetermined tracepattern. The operator body part is moved in the trace patterncorresponding to the registered pattern information SP1 on, for example,the virtual input surface VS1. For example, the y-axis component ofacceleration corresponding to the registered pattern information SP1 iszero.

The specifying unit 110 specifies the trace pattern by comparing themotion information MD1 with the plurality of pieces of registeredpattern information SP1 stored in the storage 70. Note that thedifferences between the virtual input surface associated with theregistered pattern information SP1 and the virtual input surfaceassociated with the motion information MD1 need to be accommodatedbefore making such a comparison.

When determining that the operator body part is moved on the virtualinput surface VS1, the specifying unit 110 directly compares the motioninformation MD1 with the plurality of pieces of registered patterninformation SP1 based on the assumption that the virtual input surfaceassociated with the motion information MD1 agrees with the virtual inputsurface associated with the registered pattern information SP1. Then,the specifying unit 110 specifies one of the plurality of pieces ofregistered pattern information SP1 that resembles the motion informationMD1 most closely, with the degree of resemblance higher than apredetermined resemblance reference value. The degree of resemblance maybe calculated in a given manner. For example, the degree of resemblancemay be calculated by adding the absolute values of the differencesbetween the individual values contained in the chronological data on themotion information MD1 and the individual values contained in thechronological data on the registered pattern information SP1.Specifically, the degree of resemblance may be obtained by adding up thesum total of the absolute values of the differences in the x-axiscomponent, the sum total of the absolute values of the differences inthe y-axis components, and the sum total of the absolute values of thedifferences in the z-axis components. The smaller the sum is, the higherthe degree of resemblance is.

The y-axis component hardly affects the trace pattern on the virtualinput surface VS1, and thus, it is not required that the y-axiscomponents be taken into account in computing the degree of resemblance.This can facilitate the computation.

When determining that the operator body part has moved on the virtualinput surface VS2, the specifying unit 110 converts the motioninformation MD1 on the virtual input surface VS2 to its equivalent onthe virtual input surface VS1. For conversion, the x-axis component, they-axis component, and the z-axis component of acceleration are regardedas the x-axis component, the z-axis component, and the y-axis component,respectively. Then, the specifying unit 110 specifies one of theplurality of pieces of registered pattern information SP1 that resemblesthe motion information MD1 obtained by the conversion, with the degreeof resemblance higher than the predetermined resemblance referencevalue.

The specifying unit 110 can specify one of the plurality of pieces ofregistered pattern information SP1, or, the trace pattern in theabove-mentioned manner. The specifying unit 110 also specifies the inputthat corresponds to the trace pattern and is input to the electronicapparatus 100. The input corresponding to the registered patterninformation SP1 is also stored in, for example, the storage 70. Thespecifying unit 110 reads, from the storage 70, information on the inputcorresponding to the specified piece of registered pattern informationSP1 and then outputs the information to the processor 130.

In Step S21, the processor 130 performs processing corresponding to theinput specified by the specifying unit 110. That is, the processor 130performs processing corresponding to the trace pattern of the movementof the operator body part. In the case where the specified input is aninput to display predetermined information, the processor 130 displaysthe predetermined information on the display 30. More specifically, theprocessor 130 creates screen information containing the predeterminedinformation and then outputs the screen information to the display 30.Upon receipt of the screen information, the display 30 displays thescreen information. Thus, the display screen of the display 30 can beappropriately updated according to the movement of the operator bodypart.

As mentioned above, both the input corresponding to the trace patternand the input associated with the luminance can be done in response to asingle movement of the operator body part of the user. These inputs maybe done by making the simple movement, instead of making differentmovements for different inputs.

The following will describe an example of processing the inputcorresponding to the trace pattern in the case where the display 30 hasstopped performing display in Step S3. For example, when the backlightis turned off, the display 30 stops performing display. In this case,the display 30 fails to display the predetermined information containedin the input corresponding to the trace pattern. Thus, the processor 130may update the screen information which is to be displayed on thedisplay 30 based on the predetermined information and cause the storage103 to store the updated screen information. When the display 30 iscontrolled to perform display at a high luminance in Step S2 in responseto the movement of the operator body part on the steeply inclinedvirtual input surface, the processor 130 may read the latest screeninformation from the storage 103 and display the information on thedisplay 30.

Assume that the user inputs text information to be included in the bodyof an email message. Specifically, the user who has already input “Goo”,which is a part of the phrase “Good morning.”, as the text informationin the body of the email message now inputs “d” on the gently inclinedvirtual input surface. The display 30 stops performing display inresponse to the movement on the gently inclined virtual input surface(Step S3). The input text information is not displayed accordingly. Theprocessor 130 updates the screen information based on the textinformation and then stores the updated screen information. This textinformation is incorporated in the body of the email message containedin the screen information. The body of the email message in the screeninformation includes the text information indicative of “Good”. Theprocessor 130 may update the screen information every time the userinputs the text information on the gently inclined virtual inputsurface. For example, the user inserts a space and then inputs “m”. Thetext information indicative of “Good m” is accordingly incorporated inthe body of the email message in the screen information.

The user can input and see the text information in the body of the emailmessage on the display 30 at the same time by moving the operator bodypart on the steeply inclined virtual input surface. The luminancecontroller 120 sets the luminance to the higher value, and the processor130 displays the latest screen information on the display 30. Forexample, in response to the user's input of “o” on the steeply inclinedvirtual input surface, the luminance controller 120 sets the luminanceto the higher value and the processor 130 displays, on the display 30,the screen information indicative of the body of the email messagecontaining “Good mo”.

As mentioned above, when the user moves the operator body part on thegently inclined virtual input surface, the display 30 may stopperforming display, thereby enhancing confidentiality. In this state,the user can continue to input the predetermined information by movingthe operator body part. The user can see the input predeterminedinformation by moving the operator body part on the steeply inclinedvirtual input surface. The screen information into which thepredetermined information is incorporated can be visually checked on thedisplay 30.

It is not always required that the screen information be updated everytime the user inputs the predetermined information. Several updates maybe conducted in response to a movement of the operator body part on thesteeply inclined virtual input surface. For example, together with theinput of “o” on the steeply inclined virtual input surface, theinformation including “d”, a space, and “m”, which have been previouslyinput on the gently inclined virtual input surface and stored, may beincorporated into the screen information.

In the above-mentioned specific example, the registered patterninformation SP1 associated with the virtual input surface VS1 has beenstored. Alternatively, the motion information on the trace patternassociated with the virtual input surface VS1 and the motion informationon the trace pattern associated with the virtual input surface VS2 maybe prestored as the registered pattern information SP1. This eliminatesthe need for converting the virtual input surface associated with themotion information MD1. In this case, the motion information MD1 iscompared with the registered pattern information SP1 to specify one ofthe plurality of pieces of registered pattern information SP1 thatresembles the motion information MD1 the most. Both the virtual inputsurface and the trace pattern can be specified accordingly.

The above-mentioned virtual input surface can be defined as will bedescribed below. The relationship between the trace of the operator bodypart and a virtual surface will be firstly described. When the userwrites characters and numbers or draws signs and graphics on a virtualsurface by moving the operator body part, the trace of the operator bodypart is included in the virtual surface in theory. This means that, intheory, the distance between the trace and the virtual surface is equalto zero. With reference to FIG. 11, the virtual surface (see thealternate long and two short dashes line) can be regarded as the surface(referred to as a “minimum distance surface”) that yields the smallestpossible sum of distances D1, which are distances between the relevantsurface and the individual points of a trace L1 of the operator bodypart.

Here, the inclination of the virtual input surface is specified. Theparallel surfaces have the same degree of inclination. Thus, the virtualinput surface may be defined as the surface parallel to the minimumdistance surface.

The specifying unit 110 and the luminance controller 120 do not need torecognize the virtual input surface. For example, the luminance may bemerely adjusted as mentioned above in such a manner that the luminancein the state in which the amount of the movement of the operator bodypart along the y axis is greater than the reference value becomes higherthan the luminance in the state in which the amount of the movement ofthe operator body part along the z axis is greater than the referencevalue. That is, the virtual input surface does not need to be specifiedin actuality.

Second Embodiment

The electronic apparatus system according to a second embodiment issimilar to the electronic apparatus system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG.12 illustrates a functional block diagram schematically showing anexample of the internal configuration of the controller 10. Thecontroller 10 includes a lock processor 140 in addition to theconstituent components of the controller 10 illustrated in FIG. 5.

The lock processor 140 can restrict operations to be performed on theoperation unit when the following conditions are met. The restrictionmay affect the touch panel 50 and/or the operation key 5. Here, the lockprocessor 140 restricts operations performed on the touch panel 50. Therestriction is also referred to as a lock hereinafter. The lock meansdisabling a predetermined operation on the operation unit. For example,operations other than the lock release input are disabled. For example,in response to a release operation on the touch panel 50, the lockprocessor 140 unlocks the touch panel 50.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart showing an example operation performedby the controller 10. In addition to the steps of the flowchartillustrated in FIG. 9, Steps S4 and S5 are included in the flowchartillustrated in FIG. 13. When it is determined in Step S1 that thevirtual input surface is gently inclined, the lock processor 140performs a lock processing in Step S5 subsequent to Step S3. In the casewhere the touch panel 50 is in the lock state immediately before StepS5, the lock processor 140 does not need to perform the lock processingagain in Step S5. Steps S3 and S5 may be performed in reverse order.

If it is determined in Step S1 that the virtual input surface is steeplyinclined, the lock processor 140 releases the lock in Step S4 subsequentto Step S2. In the case where the touch panel 50 is not in the lockstate immediately before Step S4, the lock processor 140 does not needto perform the release processing in Step S4. Steps S2 and S4 may beperformed in reverse order.

The user can remotely operate the electronic apparatus 100 through theuse of the wearable input apparatus 200. In this case, however, it issometimes difficult for the user to stop the stranger from operating theelectronic apparatus 100. The lock processor 140 can perform the lockprocessing according to the inclination of the virtual input surface.Thus, when being away from the electronic apparatus 100, the user caneasily restrict the operation of the stranger on the touch panel 50.

The lock processor 140 performs the lock processing in response to themovement of the operator body part on the gently inclined virtual inputsurface. This means that the operation of the stranger on the touchpanel 50 is restricted while the user performs an input on the virtualinput surface that is less visible to the stranger. This can enhanceconfidentiality.

Restrictions on the operation on the touch panel 50 are removed inresponse to the movement of the operator body part on the steeplyinclined operator body part. The lock is released when the user performsan input on the virtual input surface that is more visible to thestranger. The user can accordingly perform an input while visuallychecking the display 30.

The operations other than the release input operation performed throughthe use of operation unit have been disabled. Alternatively, all of theoperations performed through the use of the operation unit may bedisabled. In this case, the user can release the lock through thewearable input apparatus 200. All of the operations are disabled, andthus, an operation of the stranger on the electronic apparatus 100 isdisabled. This can further enhance confidentiality.

Third Embodiment

The electronic apparatus system according to a third embodiment issimilar to the electronic apparatus system illustrated in FIG. 1. Anexample of the internal configuration of the controller 10 is similar tothe configuration illustrated in FIG. 12.

In the third embodiment, the lock processor 140 performs the lockprocessing and releases the lock when conditions that are different fromthe conditions in the second embodiment are met. The lock processor 140locks the operation unit (e.g., the touch panel 50 in this case) whendetermining that no operation has been performed through the use of thetouch panel 50 and the operation key 5 for a predetermined period oftime. The lock processor 140 can make such a determination using a timercircuit, which measures the period of time over which no input has beenperformed.

The lock processor 140 may lock the touch panel 50 in response to theuser's operation on the operation key 5 that is assigned to the lockprocessing.

The lock processor 140 may perform the lock processing when the operatorbody part moves at a speed greater than a predetermined value due to acollision with an external object. Such a determination can be madebased on, for example, the magnitude relationship between theacceleration and the predetermined value.

In short, the lock processor 140 in the third embodiment can perform thelock processing based on the condition other than the inclination of thevirtual input surface.

The lock processor 140 releases the lock in response to the lock releaseinput to the touch panel 50. The lock release input means, for example,the input of a password for releasing the lock through the use of thetouch panel 50. Specifically, the lock processor 140 determines whetherthe password input through the use of the touch panel 50 coincides withthe lock release password. If a determination is positive, the lock isreleased.

The lock release input may be an operation pattern for releasing thelock through the use of the touch panel 50. The operation pattern meansthe trace of an operator moved on the display area 2 a. The operationpattern is detected by the touch panel 50. The lock processor 140determines whether the operation pattern input through the use of thetouch panel 50 coincides with the operation pattern for releasing thelock. If a determination is positive, the lock is released.

In the third embodiment, the user can input the password or theoperation pattern by moving the operator body part, instead of operatingthe touch panel 50. When inputting the password, the user moves theoperator body part on the predetermined virtual input surface in amanner to indicate the start of the input of the password, to inputelements (characters or numbers) included in the password one by one,and to indicate the end of the input of the password.

Based on the motion information MD1, the specifying unit 110 specifiesthe degree of inclination of the virtual input surface with respect tothe above-mentioned movement and also specifies the inputs indicated bythe above-mentioned movement as the start of input, the individualelements of the password, and the end of input. The inclination of thevirtual input surface and the inputs are output to the lock processor140. The lock processor 140 can recognize the input passwordaccordingly.

Similarly, the user can move the operator body part in a manner to inputthe operation pattern for releasing the lock. For example, the usermoves the operator body part on the predetermined virtual input surfacein a manner to indicate the start of the input of the operation pattern,to trace the operation pattern, and to indicate the end of the input ofthe operation pattern (e.g., to keep the operator body part at the sameposition for a predetermined period of time).

Based on the motion information MD1, the specifying unit 110 specifiesthe degree of inclination of the virtual input surface with respect tothe above-mentioned movement and also specifies the inputs indicated bythe above-mentioned movement as the start of input, the input of theoperation pattern, and the end of input. The inclination of the virtualinput surface and the inputs are output to the lock processor 140. Thelock processor 140 can recognize the input operation patternaccordingly.

The lock processor 140 accepts the lock release input (such as apassword or an operation pattern) done by moving the operator body part,as mentioned above. However, the lock processor 140 may disable the lockrelease input depending on the inclination of the virtual input surface.Specifically, if the virtual input surface is steeply inclined, the lockprocessor 140 does not accept the lock release input that has been doneby moving the operator body part. If the virtual input surface is gentlyinclined, the lock processor 140 accepts the lock release input that hasbeen done by moving the operator body part.

FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of the specificoperation performed by the specifying unit 110, the luminance controller120, and the lock processor 140. Steps S1 to S3 of FIG. 14 are identicalto Steps S1 to S3 of FIG. 9.

In Step 6 subsequent to Step S2, the specifying unit 110 determineswhether the input that has been done by moving the operator body part isthe lock release input (e.g., the input of a password or the input of anoperation pattern). If a determination is negative in Step S6, theoperation is ended. If a determination is positive, in Step S8, the lockprocessor 140 disables the lock release input that has been done bymoving the operator body part. In the case where the virtual inputsurface is steeply inclined, the lock is not released in response to thelock release input that has been done properly.

Subsequent to Step S3, Step S7 identical to Step S6 is performed. If adetermination is negative in Step S7, the operation is ended. If adetermination is positive, in Step S9, the lock processor 140 enablesthe lock release input that has been done by moving the operator bodypart. The lock processor 140 releases the lock in response to the lockrelease input that has been done properly.

In the case where the virtual input surface is steeply inclined, thelock processor 140 disables the lock release input that has been done bymoving the operator body part, as mentioned above. When the lock releaseinput is done on the virtual input surface that is more visible to thestranger, the lock processor 140 does not release the lock. It is thusnot revealed, to the stranger who has perceived the movement of theoperator body part, that the operator body part has been moved torelease the lock.

When the operator body part is moved on the gently inclined virtualinput surface to release the lock, the lock processor 140 enables thelock release input done by moving the operator body part. When the lockrelease input is done on the virtual input surface on which the movementis less perceptible to the stranger, the lock processor 140 releases thelock. Thus, the user can release the lock without anyone else knowingthat the user is moving the operator body part in order to release thelock.

Fourth Embodiment

In the second and third embodiments, the touch panel 50 has been lockedwhen the respective conditions are met. The lock operation performedupon satisfaction of the condition in the second embodiment is referredto as a primary lock. The lock operation performed upon satisfaction ofthe condition in the third embodiment is referred to as a secondarylock. The primary lock and the secondary lock are applicable to a fourthembodiment. The first and secondary locks may be simply referred to as alock when there is no need to distinguish between them.

The electronic apparatus system according to the fourth embodiment issimilar to the electronic apparatus system illustrated in FIG. 1. Anexample of the internal configuration of the controller 10 is similar tothe configuration illustrated in FIG. 12.

For example, the lock processor 140 releases the primary lock both inthe case where the lock release input (e.g., the input of a password orthe input of an operation pattern) has been properly done by operatingthe operation unit (e.g., the touch panel 50) or by moving the operatorbody part and in the case where the virtual input surface is steeplyinclined as in the second embodiment.

The secondary lock is released by the lock processor 140 in the casewhere the lock release input has been properly performed by operatingthe operation unit or by moving the operator body part as in the thirdembodiment. The lock release input is applicable to both the primarylock and the secondary lock. This means that the primary lock and thesecondary lock are released in response to one lock release input.

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of the specificoperation performed by the specifying unit 110, the luminance controller120, and the lock processor 140. Steps S1 to S3 of FIG. 15 are identicalto Steps S1 to S3 of FIG. 9.

If it is determined in Step S1 that the virtual input surface is steeplyinclined, the lock processor 140 releases the primary lock in Step S4′subsequent to Step S2. In the case where the virtual input surface issteeply inclined, the movement of the operator body part is more visibleto the stranger and it is almost useless concealing the input. Theprimary lock becomes unnecessary, and thus, the primary lock is releasedas in the second embodiment.

Then, in Step S6′, the specifying unit 110 determines whether the inputthat has been done by moving the operator body part is the lock releaseinput, as in Step S6 in the third embodiment. If a determination isnegative in Step S6′, the operation is ended. If a determination ispositive, the lock processor 140 disables the lock release input in StepS8′. In the case where the virtual input surface is steeply inclined,the secondary lock is not released in response to the lock release inputthat has been done properly. Thus, the fact that the movement of theoperator body part is the lock release input is concealed from thestranger who has perceived the relevant movement.

If it is determined in Step S1 that the virtual input surface is gentlyinclined, the lock processor 140 applies the primary lock in Step S5′subsequent to Step S3, as in the second embodiment. In the case wherethe virtual input surface is gently inclined, the movement of theoperator body part is relatively less perceptible to the stranger. It isthus imperative for the user to conceal the input, and the lockprocessor 140 applies the primary lock accordingly.

Subsequent to Step S5′, Step S7′ identical to Step S6′ is performed. Ifa determination is negative in Step S7′, the operation is ended. If adetermination is positive, in Step S9′, the lock processor 140 enablesthe lock release input, as in the third embodiment. The lock processor140 releases the primary lock and the secondary lock in response to thelock release input that has been done properly.

In the case where the virtual input surface is gently inclined, theprimary lock is also released in response to the lock release input thathas been consciously done by the user. The primary lock and thesecondary lock are released in response to the lock release input doneon the virtual input surface on which the movement is less perceptibleto the stranger. Thus, the user can release the locks without anyoneelse knowing it.

Step S2, Step S4′, and the combination of Steps S6′ and S8′ may beperformed in any desired order. Step S3 and the combination of StepsS5′, S7′, and S9′ may be performed in any desired order.

Fifth Embodiment

The electronic apparatus system according to a fifth embodiment issimilar to the electronic apparatus system illustrated in FIG. 1. Anexample of the internal configuration of the controller 10 is similar tothe configuration illustrated in FIG. 12. In the fifth embodiment aswell, the user inputs the lock release password by moving the operatorbody part on the virtual input surface.

In the fifth embodiment, the user inputs elements (characters ornumbers) included in the password by moving the operator body part onthe different virtual input surfaces. As illustrated in FIG. 16, out ofthe numbers included in the password “1236”, the user inputs “1”, “2”,and “3” by moving the operator body part on the gently inclined virtualinput surface VS2 and inputs “6” by moving the operator body part on thesteeply inclined virtual input surface VS1.

Based on the motion information MD1, the specifying unit 110 specifiesthe inclination of the virtual input surface with respect to theabove-mentioned movement and also specifies, as the individual elementsof the password, an input corresponding to the trace pattern of theabove-mentioned movement. The inclination of the virtual input surfaceand the elements of the password are output to the lock processor 140one by one.

The lock processor 140 determines whether to display, on the display 30,each of the elements of the password that have been input one by onebased on the inclination of the corresponding one of the virtual inputsurfaces. FIG. 16 schematically illustrates an example of therelationship between the movement of the operator body part forinputting the password and the relevant display screen on the displayarea 2 a. The lock processor 140 does not display the password when theuser moves the operator body part on the gently inclined virtual inputsurface VS2 to input the individual element of the password. In theillustration of FIG. 16, the displaying is ended in the display area 2 a(the display 30 stops performing display), so that the elements of thepassword are not displayed.

In the illustration of FIG. 16, the user moves the operator body part toindicate “6”, which is the final element of the password, on the steeplyinclined virtual input surface VS1. When the user moves the operatorbody part on the steeply inclined virtual input surface VS1 to input theindividual element of the password, the lock processor 140 displays, onthe display 30, the individual element that has been input on thesteeply inclined virtual input surface VS1 without displaying theindividual element itself that has been input on the gently inclinedvirtual input surface VS2. In the illustration of FIG. 16, the elements“1”, “2”, and “3” themselves are not displayed and are each representedby a mark “●”, which is information different from the element itself.The password as a whole is represented by “●●●6”. The mark “●” is one ofthe symbols used to hide sensitive information.

When the operator body part is moved on the virtual input surface VS2,on which the movement of the operator body part is less perceptible, thepassword is displayed, with the input elements themselves being keptconfidential, as mentioned above. The user may input confidentialelements on the gently inclined virtual input surface VS2, whereas theuser may input, on the steeply inclined virtual input surface VS1,elements which are to be checked in visual form on the display 30. Thisoffers advantages to the user in inputting the password.

In the illustration of FIG. 16, the input element is represented by thesymbol that is typically used to hide sensitive information.Alternatively, information different from the input element may bedisplayed. When an element “123” is input, this element may berepresented by different information, such as “234”. In this case aswell, the correct password is kept confidential.

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of theabove-mentioned operation. Steps S1 to S3 of FIG. 17 are identical toSteps S1 to S3 of FIG. 9. When determining in Step S1 that the virtualinput surface is steeply inclined, the specifying unit 110 determines,in Step S10 subsequent to Step S2, whether the input corresponding tothe trace pattern of the operator body part is the input of elements ofthe password. For example, in a case where the operator body part hasalready been moved to start inputting the password and the operator bodypart has not been moved to finish inputting the password yet, thespecifying unit 110 determines that the relevant input is the input ofthe elements of the password.

If a determination is negative in Step S10, the operation is ended. If adetermination is positive in Step S10, in Step S12, the lock processor140 displays, on the display 30, the individual element of the passwordthat has been input on the steeply inclined virtual input surfacewithout displaying, on the display 30, the individual element of thepassword that has been input on the gently inclined virtual inputsurface.

If it is determined in Step S1 that the virtual input surface is gentlyinclined, Step S11 identical to Step S10 is performed subsequent to StepS3. If a determination is negative in Step S11, the operation is ended.If a determination is positive, in Step S13, the lock processor 140 doesnot display the input password on the display 30. In Step S3, theluminance controller 120 may set the luminance to zero, and the display30 may stop performing display accordingly. In this case, Steps S11 andS13 are not necessary.

Step S2 and the combination of Steps S10 and S12 may be performed inreverse order. Step S3 and the combination of Steps S11 and S13 may beperformed in reverse order.

The fifth embodiment is applicable to not only the lock processing butalso other types of display processing. In a case where firstinformation is included in a first input corresponding to a firstmovement of the operator body part on the gently inclined virtual inputsurface, the first information is not displayed. In a case where displayof second information is included in a second input corresponding to asecond movement of the operator body part on the steeply inclinedvirtual input surface, the second information is displayed and the firstinformation input on the gently inclined virtual input surface is notdisplayed. When there is no display of the first information, the firstinformation itself is not displayed, whereas third information differentfrom the first information (e.g., a sign indicating that an input hasbeen done) may be displayed.

Sixth Embodiment

The electronic apparatus system according to a sixth embodiment issimilar to the electronic apparatus system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG.18 illustrates a functional block diagram schematically illustrating anexample of the internal configuration of the controller 10. Thecontroller 10 includes a communication determination unit 150 inaddition to the constituent components of the controller 10 illustratedin FIG. 5.

The communication determination unit 150 can calculate, based on asignal received from the wearable input apparatus 200, a valueindicating the quality of communication between the wearable inputapparatus 200 and the electronic apparatus 100 (a value equivalent tothe communication value of a means to solve the problems) and determinewhether the value is greater than a predetermined communicationreference value. Here, the reception strength of the received signal(e.g., electric power) may be calculated. The communicationdetermination unit 150 determines whether the reception strength isgreater than a predetermined reception reference value. The receptionstrength decreases with increasing distance between the electronicapparatus 100 and the wearable input apparatus 200. The receptionstrength may be weakened by a barrier located between the electronicapparatus 100 and the wearable input apparatus 200. The determinationresult associated with the magnitude relation between the receptionsignal and the reception reference value is output to the luminancecontroller 120.

FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of the specificoperation performed by the controller 10. The wearable input apparatus200 transmits a signal to the electronic apparatus 100 at predeterminedintervals. For example, the operation of FIG. 19 is performed every timethe electronic apparatus 100 receives a signal from the wearable inputapparatus 200. In Step S30, the communication determination unit 150determines whether the reception strength is greater than the receptionreference value, as mentioned above. If a determination is positive inStep S30, in Step S31, the controller 10 controls the luminance asmentioned in the first embodiment. That is, the controller 10 controlsthe luminance of the display 30 according to the inclination of thevirtual input surface.

If a determination is negative in Step S30, in Step S32, the luminancecontroller 120 sets the luminance of the display 30 to the lower value.For example, the luminance may be set to zero.

As mentioned above, the luminance of the display 30 is reduced in thecase where the electronic apparatus 100 is at a great distance from theuse or in the case where a barrier is located between the electronicapparatus 100 and the user. In such a case, it is conceivable that theuser will not directly operate the electronic apparatus 100, and thus,the luminance is decreased such that the display 30 becomes less visibleto the stranger.

Unlike Step S32 in FIG. 19 that is repeatedly performed as long as thereception strength is smaller than the reception reference value, StepS32 in some embodiments may be performed at a switch from the state inwhich the reception strength is greater than the reception referencevalue to the state in which the reception strength is smaller than thereception reference value. This switch can be detected in the followingmanner. For example, the communication determination unit 150 may storethe reception strength in advance. In the case where the previousreception strength is greater than the reception reference value and thecurrent reception strength is smaller than the reception referencevalue, the communication determination unit 150 may detect the switch.

When the user operates the operation unit or moves the operator bodypart to perform an input operation for increasing the luminance of thedisplay in the state in which the reception strength is smaller than thereception reference value, the user's input operation is enabled.

Conversely, the luminance controller 120 may set the luminance of thedisplay 30 to the higher value at a switch from the state in which thereception strength is smaller than the reception reference value to thestate in which the reception strength is greater than the receptionreference value. When the user moves the operator body part on thevirtual input surface in the state in which the reception strength isgreater than the reception reference value, the luminance is controlledin Step S31 according to the inclination of the virtual input surface.

FIG. 20 illustrates a functional block diagram schematically showing anexample of the internal configuration of the controller 10. Thecontroller 10 includes the lock processor 140 in addition to theconstituent components of the controller 10 illustrated in FIG. 18. FIG.21 illustrates a flowchart showing an example of the specific operationperformed by the controller 10. In addition to the steps of theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 19, Steps S33 and S34 are included in theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 21. If a determination is negative in StepS30, the lock processor 140 applies a lock to the operation unit in StepS34 subsequent to Step S32. In the sixth embodiment, the lock operationis also performed when the communication quality is low. Steps S32 andS34 may be performed in reverse order.

If a determination is positive in Step S30, in Step S33 subsequent toStep S31, the lock processor 140 releases the lock that has been appliedon the basis of the low communication quality. Steps S31 and S33 may beperformed in reverse order.

The user can accordingly restrict the stranger's operation on theelectronic apparatus 100 in the state in which the user is at a greatdistance from the electronic apparatus 100 or a barrier is locatedbetween the user and the electronic apparatus 100. Also, the user canaccordingly unlock the electronic apparatus 100 in the state in whichthe user is close to the electronic apparatus 100 or no barrier islocated between the user and the electronic apparatus 100. In the casewhere the user cannot easily stop the stranger from operating theelectronic apparatus 100, the user can restrict the stranger'soperation.

It is not always required that Step S34 be repeatedly performed as longas the reception strength is smaller than the reception reference value.Step S34 may be performed at a switch from the state in which thereception strength is greater than the reception reference value to thestate in which the reception strength is smaller than the receptionreference value. In the state in which the reception strength is smallerthan the reception reference value, the lock processor 140 may releasethe lock applied in Step S34 in response to a correct lock release inputthat has been done by moving the operator body part. This offersadvantages to the user in releasing the lock.

Step S32, which is included in the illustration of FIG. 21, may beomitted.

The following will describe lock conditions and lock release conditionsassociated with both the primary lock, which is to be applied uponcompletion of the condition mentioned in the second embodiment, and thesecondary lock, which is to be applied upon completion of the conditionmentioned in the third embodiment. Here, the lock applied in Step S34 ofFIG. 21 is referred to as a tertiary lock.

(i) The primary lock is applied upon completion of a first lockcondition that the virtual input surface is gently inclined, asdescribed in the second embodiment. (iii) The tertiary lock is appliedupon completion of a third lock condition that the communication qualityis lower than the communication reference value, as mentioned above.(ii) The secondary lock is applied upon completion of a second lockcondition (e.g., the absence of input operation over a predeterminedperiod of time) different from the first lock condition and the thirdlock condition.

The lock release conditions are now described. (I) Both the primary lockand the tertiary lock can be released in response to a lock releaseinput that has been properly done by moving the operator body part oroperating the operation unit. (II) The primary lock alone can bereleased upon completion of the lock release condition that the virtualinput surface is steeply inclined. (III) The tertiary lock alone can bereleased upon completion of the lock release condition that thecommunication quality is high.

FIG. 22 schematically illustrates an example configuration of thewearable input apparatus 200. The wearable input apparatus 200 includesa notification unit 230 in addition to the constituent componentsillustrated in FIG. 2. The notification unit 230 is, for example, avibrator, a sound output unit, or a display, and can providenotification to the user.

FIG. 23 illustrates a flowchart showing an example operation performedby the controller 10 and the notification unit 230. In addition to thesteps of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 21, Step S35 is included inthe flowchart illustrated in FIG. 23. In Step S35 subsequent to S34, thecontroller 10 transmits, to the wearable input apparatus 200 through theproximity wireless communication unit 22, a command signal for causingthe notification unit 230 to provide notification. When the wearableinput apparatus 200 receives the signal, the notification unit 230provides notification to the user. In the case where the notificationunit 230 is a vibrator, the notification unit 230 provides notificationto the user by vibrating in a predetermined vibration pattern. In thecase where the notification unit 230 is a display, the notification unit230 displays predetermined contents corresponding to the signal. In thecase where the notification unit 230 is a sound output unit, thenotification unit 230 outputs a predetermined sound (e.g., voice).

The user accordingly becomes aware that the luminance has been reducedand that a lock has been applied.

It is not always required that Step S35 be performed repeatedly as longas the reception strength is smaller than the reception reference value.Step S35 may be performed over a predetermined period of time after aswitch from the state in which the reception strength is greater thanthe reception reference value to the state in which the receptionstrength is smaller than the reception reference value. Thepredetermined period of time may be set in advance. The notificationunit 230 can clock a predetermined period using a timer circuit. Thewearable input apparatus 200 may include an operation unit such that theuser can stop the notification by operating the operation unit.

Although Step S32 and the combination of Steps S33 and S34 are includedin FIG. 23, Step S32 or the combination of Steps S33 and S34 may beperformed. In this case as well, the user becomes aware that theluminance has been reduced or that a lock has been applied.

FIG. 24 schematically illustrates an example of the internalconfiguration of the controller 10. The controller 10 includes a displaycontroller 160 in addition to the constituent components illustrated inFIG. 20. FIG. 25 illustrates a flowchart showing an example operationperformed by the controller 10. FIG. 25 includes Step S32′ in place ofStep S32 of FIG. 23 and also includes Steps S36 and S37 in addition tothe remaining steps of FIG. 23. In Step S32′, the luminance controller120 sets the luminance to zero, and the display 30 stops performingdisplay accordingly. That is, the display 30 is placed in thenon-display state.

In Step S36 subsequent to Step S35, the controller 10 determines whetheran operation has been performed by using the operation unit in order tocause the display 30 to switch from the non-display state to the displaystate. This operation is, for example, a press down operation on theoperation key 5. The key operation unit 52 can detect the press downoperation on the operation key 5 and then output the information on theoperation to the controller 10. Upon receipt of the information, thecontroller 10 makes a positive determination in Step S36 and thenoutputs the determination result to the display controller 160. If adetermination is negative in Step S36, the operation is ended. If adetermination is positive, in Step S37, the controller 10 displays, onthe display 30, a dummy display screen prestored in the storage 70 orthe like, instead of the latest image information stored in the storage70 or the like. The dummy display screen is not as confidential as thelatest image information stored in the storage 70.

It is sometimes hard for the user to directly operate the electronicapparatus 100 or to stop the stranger from operating the electronicapparatus 100. In such a case as well, the dummy screen different fromthe user's input to the electronic apparatus 100 is displayed. This canenhance the confidentiality of the user's input.

While the electronic apparatus 100 has been described above in detail,the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and notrestrictive. It is understood that numerous modifications which have notbeen exemplified can be devised without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, the specifying unit 110 may be includedin the wearable input apparatus 200. In this case, the information onthe inclination of the virtual input surface and the input correspondingto the movement of the operator body part may be transmitted from thewearable input apparatus 200 to the electronic apparatus 100.

Embodiments are applicable in combination as long as they are consistentwith each other.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic apparatus that communicates with aninput apparatus worn on an operator body part, the input apparatusincluding a motion detector configured to detect motion informationindicative of a movement of the operator body part, the electronicapparatus comprising: a display; and at least one processor configuredto: determine a virtual input surface based on the motion information,wherein a plane of the virtual input surface is parallel to a plane ofmovement of the operator body part as indicated by the motioninformation; and perform a luminance control in which a luminance of thedisplay is adjusted based on an inclination of the plane of the virtualinput surface.
 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe at least one processor sets a first luminance and a second luminancein such a manner that the first luminance is lower than the secondluminance, the first luminance being a luminance of the display in astate in which the plane of the virtual input surface is placed at afirst inclination, the second luminance being a luminance of the displayin a state in which the plane of the virtual input surface is placed ata second inclination steeper than the first inclination.
 3. Theelectronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the plane of thevirtual input surface is at the first inclination, the at least oneprocessor reduces the luminance of the display to cause the display toenter a non-display state.
 4. The electronic apparatus according toclaim 2, further comprising an input device, wherein when the virtualinput surface is placed at the first inclination, the at least oneprocessor imposes a restriction on an operation performed by using theinput device.
 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, whereinthe at least one processor restricts the operator body part in a mannerto disable all operations performed by using the input device.
 6. Theelectronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the virtualinput surface is placed at the second inclination, the at least oneprocessor removes the restriction on the operation.
 7. The electronicapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an input device,wherein the at least one processor specifies, based on the motioninformation, an input corresponding to a movement of the operator bodypart on the virtual input surface, imposes and removes a restriction onan operation performed by using the operator body part, and disables arelease input for removing the restriction on conditions that the inputis the release input and that the virtual input surface on which theoperator body part has been moved in a manner to correspond to the inputis placed at the second inclination.
 8. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the at least one processor specifies,based on the motion information one by one, inputs corresponding tosequential movements of the operator body part on the virtual inputsurface, and causes the display not to display first information and todisplay second information on conditions that display of the firstinformation is included in a first input specified according to a firstmovement of the operator body part, that display of second informationis included in a second input specified according to a second movementof the operator body part, that the virtual input surface on which thefirst movement is made is placed at the first inclination, and that thevirtual input surface on which the second movement is made is placed atthe second inclination.
 9. The electronic apparatus according to claim8, wherein the at least one processor causes the display to display boththe first information and third information different from the secondinformation.
 10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe at least one processor specifies, based on the motion information,an input corresponding to a movement of the operator body part on thevirtual input surface, and performs processing corresponding to theinput.
 11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein themotion detector includes an accelerometer configured to detect anacceleration as the motion information, and the at least one processorcalculates, based on chronological data on the acceleration, a verticalvalue indicative of an amount of a movement of the operator body part ina vertical direction and a horizontal value indicative of an amount of amovement of the operator body part in a horizontal direction, judgeswhether the vertical value is smaller than a predetermined amount andwhether the horizontal value is smaller than the predetermined amount,and sets a third luminance and a fourth luminance in such a manner thatthe third luminance is lower than the fourth luminance, the thirdluminance being a luminance of the display in a state in which thevertical value is smaller than the predetermined amount, the fourthluminance being a luminance of the display in a state in which thehorizontal value is smaller than the predetermined amount.
 12. Theelectronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a communicationvalue that is calculated based on a signal received by the electronicapparatus from the input apparatus and indicative of communicationquality is greater than a predetermined reference value, the at leastone processor performs the luminance control, and when the communicationvalue is smaller than the predetermined reference value, the at leastone processor reduces the luminance.
 13. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising an input device, wherein when acommunication value that is calculated based on a signal received by theelectronic apparatus from the input apparatus and indicative ofcommunication quality is smaller than a predetermined reference value,the at least one processor imposes a restriction on an operation on theinput device.
 14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a storage configured to prestore a dummy display screen; andan input device that is to be used to perform an operation for causingthe display to switch from a non-display state to a display state,wherein the at least one processor causes the display to display thedummy display screen in response to the operation performed in a statein which a communication value that is calculated based on a signalreceived by the electronic apparatus from the input apparatus andindicative of communication quality is smaller than a predeterminedvalue.
 15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12, furthercomprising a wireless transmitter, wherein the input apparatus includesa notification unit, and when the communication value is smaller thanthe predetermined reference value, the wireless transmitter transmits,to the input apparatus, a command signal for causing the notificationunit to provide notification.
 16. An electronic apparatus systemcomprising: an input apparatus configured to be worn on an operator bodypart, the input apparatus including a motion detector configured todetect motion information indicative of a movement of the operator bodypart; and an electronic apparatus including a display, and at least oneprocessor configured to: determine a virtual input surface based on themotion information, wherein a plane of the virtual input surface isparallel to a plane of movement of the operator body part as indicatedby the motion information; and perform a luminance control in which aluminance of the display is adjusted based on an inclination of theplane of the virtual input surface.
 17. A method for controlling anelectronic apparatus that communicates with an input apparatusconfigured to be worn on an operator body part, the input apparatusincluding a motion detector configured to detect motion informationindicative of a movement of the operator body part, the methodcomprising: determining a virtual input surface based on the motioninformation, wherein a plane of the virtual input surface is parallel toa plane of movement of the operator body part as indicated by the motioninformation; and controlling a luminance of a display of the electronicapparatus based on an inclination of the plane of the virtual inputsurface.